Typhoon Gener intensifies, continues north

Typhoon Gener (international name Malakas) intensified as it continued to move northward at 17 kilometers-per-hour, and should exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) sometime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., PAGASA reported in a Saturday morning bulletin.

At 4 a.m., Gener was 335 kilometers north-northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum winds of  165 kph, with  gusts of up to 200 kph. Estimated rainfall amount with the typhoon's 450 km diameter was from moderate to heavy.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 remained up over the Batanes Islands, which will experience rains accompanied with gusty winds.

The Ilocos Region, Apayao, Cagayan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan will meanwhile be cloudy with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms.

The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Winds will be moderate to strong from the southwest over the Visayas and the rest of Luzon, where coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Winds elsewhere will be light to moderate coming from the southwest with slight to moderate seas.

According to PAGASA's projections, Gener should be 720 kms north of Basco, Batanes by Sunday morning. — DVM, GMA News